Father Benny Bethyadgar

by Assyrian Directory of California

Posted: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 at 04:13 PM CT

Amidst the statistics and lamentable conditions that have made up the horrific
existence in the Republic of Georgia, the ineffective government aid programs
politics and the Assyrians' determination to survive in faith and truth, a ray
of hope has landed in the heart of this seemingly fated problem. That hope is a
simple man with a not-so-simple mission. His name is Father Benyamin Bethyadgar,
or as he prefers, Father Benny, or simply Benny. He is the main reason that we,
as a community, have become aware of the circumstances in the Republic of
Georgia.

Benny Bethyadgar was born in Urmie, Iran where he spent his childhood years
there along with his mother, Elishwa, his father, Wallace, and his two siblings.
While attending elementary school in Urmie, his parents noticed Benny's keen
interest in the church. At the mere age of eight, he began to seek an active
role in the church. He learned the Assyrian language, and eventually became
shamasha, or deacon, of his parish.

At thirteen, he was an active member of his youth group. While others slept
through the lazy days of summer, Benny, along with the group, journeyed nearby
villages, feeding the poor and aiding the sick. Benny continued this lifestyle
for the next few years, not knowing that one day it would change his life
forever.

At sixteen, Benny's life began to take a significant turn. Meeting with Bishop
Mar Toma, during a local visit to Urmie, Benny discussed the imperative role the
Church had played in his life, and communicated his attraction to religious
devotion. Consequently, in 1982, Benny headed for Tehran to attend the seminary.

After finishing his studies, he fled Iran via Turkey in 1985. He entered the
seminary in Rome, Italy. There, his devotion to help the poor was reinforced as
he continued his studies. Eventually, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
and a Masters in Theology. With a completed thesis on The Rogation of Ninevites
(Ba'oota 'd Ninwaye), his Ph.D. is imminent. He is fluent in Assyrian, Italian,
French, Farsi, Turkish, and most recently Russian.

On September 18, 1994, he became the first Assyrian Catholic priest to be
ordained in California. Although Father Benny's dream had come true, the
challenges he would face as a priest had just begun. The Vatican-sponsored
Georgian humanitarian mission began in May of 1995. Monsignor Jean-Paul Gobel,
the Vatican's Ambassador and Administrator to the Republics of Georgia, Armenia,
and Azerbaijan obtained a letter written by the Assyrian community leaders in
Georgia that same year. The letter's aim sought support from Assyrians living
outside of Georgia. Monsignor Gobel then delivered the letter to the Vatican and
assiduously sought an Assyrian translator.

At the time of the letter's distribution, Father Benny was working on his Ph.D.
studies. Reading the letter, he instantly agreed to accompany Monsignor Gobel to
Tbilisi, Georgia. After only three days of experiencing life in Tbilsi, he
realized that a greater mission was set before him. Knowing that his services
would be successful in Georgia, Father Benny moved to Georgia acting not only as
the Assyrians' local priest, but as their faithful friend.

In Georgia, he tirelessly works to feed the hungry, cloth the poor, aid the
sick, and educate the young. Acknowledging the importance of education,
Father Benny teaches Assyrian language classes for children, adolescents and
adults as well as a two-hour choir practice. There are nearly forty children
who participate in these classes, most of whom have become fluent Assyrian
readers of the Bible. Through these efforts, Father Benny has not only
pulled together the Assyrian Georgian community, but has also rekindled the
spirit of God and Assyrianism amongst its members.

Father Benny recognized and acknowledged his will to serve those who are less
fortunate early on in his life. In Georgia, he not only fulfills his assignment
with compassion and enthusiasm, he does it with earnest humility and meekness.
There, he assists the handicapped and holds hands with the elderly. He embraces
the ill and laughs whole-heartedly with the young. He brings hope to a people
torn from war, re-instilling the idea of love and guidance to a culture that has
guided him in becoming the man he is today. Perhaps what makes Father Benny most
compelling, however, is his life-long commitment to humanitarian efforts,
particularly to those dedicated to Assyrians worldwide.

For the next three years, Father Benny plans on maintaining that commitment in
Georgia, in the hopes that Assyrians, throughout, will support him in this noble
effort.